| Abstract: | Irreversible processes in a classical electron plasma are treated on the basis of a linearized Vlasov equation supplemented by Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook terms describing electron-electron and electron-ion collisions correctly. The infinitely extended plasma is under the action of a space- and time-dependent external electric field. A general method of solution with projection operator techniques is given which results in a system of two coupled Volterra integral equations of the convolution type for the internal electric field and the current density. From there follows the electron distribution function, the electric field in the plasma, the electrical conductivity and a very general dispersion relation including Landau and collision damping. The method given can be generalized f. i. for multicomponent plasmas and for strong external electric fields. |
